Table

ABSTRACT

A table having removable legs which are readily stored with the top.

I Umted States Patent 11 1 11 1 Howitt 1 Apr. 8, 1975 [54] TABLE1,414.575 5/1922 211mm 248/165 1378.650 10/1934 ann0n.... 108/156 [75]Inventor: Robert T. Howm, Leommster. 3244,]25 4H9, Macks), I v H 108/25Mass- 3.604.371 9/1971 CHVQIPCC1 108/156 Assigneez Frem Corporation.wnrccslcl Manning X Mass. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 22 Filed; Oct.9 1973 614.517 12/1960 Italy 1. 248/188 475,275 10/1952 Italy 1 1 1108/156 [21] Appl. No.: 404,772 504.382 7/1954 Canada 1 1. 248/1881.131.884 10/1956 France 403/363 [52] U.S. Cl. 108/25;120488//1l5665;'224488//11581 Primary Emmmer Roy D Frazier H In 3/06Assistant E.\'aminerWi11iam E. Lyddane Fieid 248M Attorney, Agent, orFirmNorman S. Blodgett; Gerry [56] References Cited [57] ABSTRACT UNITEDSTATES PATENTS A table having removable legs whlch are readily storedwith the top. 117.277 7/1871 Hallowell el al 108/156 1.262.339 4/1918Hathorne 248/188 7 Claims. 11 Drawlng Flgur s PATENIEDAPR ems SHEET 1 BF4 TABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is common practice at socialevents to use small tables on which the guests can place their glasses,plates, and other eating materials. In the past, these small tables havebeen provided with fixed legs that could be stored only with difficulty.Some have been provided with hinged foldable legs that permit the legsto be folded into the interior of a recess in the bottom of the table inthe manner similar to the well-known card table." Because of theintricate nature of the hinging mechanism, it is difficult to provide aninexpensive table of this kind whose hinge has any degree of durability.In other words, such a table is either expensive or it becomes readilyinoperative. Furthermore. because such snack tables are often usedoutdoors and sometimes left there, the prior art portable and storabletables have been subject to rapid deterioration due to the attack of theelements. These and other difficulties experienced with the prior artdevices have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide atable all parts of which are adaptable to be formed inexpensively ofplastic by the injection molding process.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a table foroccasional use whose legs are removable. The connection of the legs tothe table being simple and rugged in construction.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of anoccasional table having removable legs which are readily secured andstored with the top.

It is another object ofthe instant invention to provide a table which isrugged in construction which can be readily formed of inexpensiveplastic material and which is capable of a long life of useful service.

It is another object of the invention to provide a table that is neatlystackable to a considerable height and c cupy very little space whenstacked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the invention consists of a tablehaving a top with a flat horizontal surface and having at least threesockets extending into the under side thereof. A plurality of legs isprovided, each one being formed to fit tightly into one of the sockets.A flange extends around the periphery of the top, the flange having twoapertures arranged on opposite sides to receive the legs for storage.

More specifically, the top and legs are fabricated by injection moldingfrom plastic. The legs are of generally U-shaped cross-sectionalconfiguration and, when stored, lie side-by-side in the apertures in theflange. Each aperture is rectangular in shape and elongated in thehorizontal direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The character of the invention,however, may be best understood by reference to one of its structuralforms, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a table embodying the principles of thepresent invention, showing it in operative condition,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the table showing it in inoperative orstorage condition,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the top of the table,

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the top taken on the line lV--IVof FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a leg, taken on the line V-V ofFIG. 6,

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the leg,

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the leg taken on the lineVII-VII of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a portion of the top,

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the top taken on the line IXIX ofFIG. 3,

FIG. [0 is a vertical sectional view of the top taken on the line X)( ofFIG. 3, and

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a portion of the top as viewedalong the line XI-XI of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1,wherein are best shown the general features of the invention, the table,indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, is shown as consistingof a top II to which are attached three legs I2, 13 and 14. FIG. I showsthe table in operative condition. The top 11 and the legs l2, l3, and 14are formed of plastic by the injection molding process. The top isformed from low melt polypropylene and is provided with a deepcylindrical recess 15 which is particularly adapted to receive adrinking glass and with a large shallow recess [6 adapted to hold foodsnacks.

In FIG. 2, the table is shown in inoperative condition, ready forstorage. The legs are shown in side-by-side relationship and held inapertures in a flange which extends around the periphery of the top, aswill be described more fully hereinafter.

As is evident in FIG. 3, the top is generally defined by threegently-curved sides 17, I8, and 19 arranged in a generally triangularconformation with their ends joined by circular segments 2], 22, and 23.The top is provided with a downwardly-extending flange 24 that extendsentirely around the periphery and is provided with windows or apertures25 and 26 located in the sides 16 and 18, respectively. Located withinthe flange in the center of the circular segment 23 (at the intersectionof the sides I7 and 18) is located a socket 27. A similar socket 28 isassociated with the circular seg ment 22 at the intersection ofthe sides18 and 19, while a socket 29 is similarly associated with the circularsegment 21 at the intersection of the sides 17 and 18. As has beenstated, the upper flat surface is interrupted by a plurality ofrecesses, including a first cylindrical recess I5 which is fairly deepand of a size to receive a drinking glass. The other recess 16 isrelatively large, is of kidney shape, and is adapted to receive snacksor the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, which show the details of the leg 12(which is exactly similar to the legs 13 and 14), the leg is formed fromhigh impact polystyrene and is provided with an upper portion 33 whichhas a reduced cross-sectional shape and extends at a substantial angleto the remainder of the leg. This arrangement assures that, when theupper portion of each leg is in its socket, the legs extend in anon-parallel manner to each other, spreading in the downward direction.In general, of course, the legs are of U-shaped cross-section, as shownin FIG. 7, where the legs of the U are shown as residing at a slightangle.

FIGS. 8. 9, l0, and 1] show some details of the table top 11. FIG. 8 isa plan view that shows clearly the relationship of the bottom of therecess 15 to its adjacent socket 29. FIG. 9 shows another view of thesocket 27 and the recess 16. It particularly shows the manner in whichthe socket 29 is tapered in the upper direction to clamp tightly on theupper end 33 of a leg. In FIG. is can be seen that the bottom of thedrinking glass recess is on the same horizontal level as the bottom ofthe edge 24. in FIG. 11 it can be seen that the aperture is rectangularin shape and is elongated in the horizontal direction. The wall abovethe aperture 25 is defined by an inner surface 34 (see FIG. 4) and anouter surface 35, the surface being spaced and parallel. The wall belowthe aperture is also defined by an inner surface 36 (see FIG. 4) and anouter surface 37. The outer surface 35 of the upper wall is co-planarwith the inner surface 36 of the lower wall. This allows the table topto be withdrawn from an injection molding mold (while still forming awindow or aperture 25) without the use of expensive and complicatedside-action mechanisms or the like in the mold.

It can be seen. then. that the present invention involves a small.inexpensive snack table that is resistant to erosion and destruction.that is easily assembled and disassembled. and that provides anexcellent storage arrangement for the legs. so that they do not becomelost or mislaid. Use of injection-molded plastic means that the tableand. particularly the recesses 31 and 32. can be readily washed andcleaned and that the colorful colors available will be aestheticallypleasing.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of the invention without departing from the material spiritthereof. It is not. however. desired to confine the invention to theexact form herein shown and described. but it is desired to include allsuch as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described. what is claimed as new anddesired to secure by Letters Patent l. A table. comprising:

a. a top injection molded of plastic and having a flat upper surface.the top having at least three sockets extending downwardly therefrom.

b. a plurality of legs. each one being adapted to fit tightly into oneof the sockets. and

c. a flange extending around the periphery ofthe top.

the flange having two apertures arranged on opposite sides and adaptedto receive the legs for storage. each aperture through the flange beingrectangular in shape and elongated in the horizontal direction. the wallabove the aperture being defined by inner and an outer parallelsurfaces. the wall below the aperture being also defined by inner andouter parallel surfaces. the outer surface of the wall above beingcoplanar with the inner surface of the wall below. thereby facillitatingmolding of the top.

2. A table as recited in claim 1, wherein the legs are of generallyU-shaped cross-sectional configuration and the legs can lie side-bysidefor storage in the apertures.

3. A table as recited in claim 2, wherein the crosssectional shape ofeach leg is made up ofa straight web from each end of which extends astraight leg lying at an obtuse angle to the web.

4. A table as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the topis defined by three generally gentlycurved sides arranged in a generallytriangular configuration with circular segments joining their ends. andwherein the said apertures are located in the portion of the flangeextending from two of the sides.

5. A table as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper flat surface isinterrupted by a plurality of recesses. one of which is circular and ofasize to receive a drinking glass and another of which is kidney-shapedto receive snacks.

6. A table as recited in claim 1, wherein each leg is provided with anupper portion of reduced cross sectional shape extending at asubstantial angle to the remainder. so that. when the upper portion ofeach leg is in its socket. the legs extend in a non-parallel manner toeach other. spreading in the downward direction.

7. A table. comprising:

a. a top having a flat surface. the top being injection molded andhaving at least three sockets extending downwardly therefrom.

b. a plurality of legs. each one being adapted to fit tightly into oneof the sockets. and

c. a flange extending around the periphery of the top.

the flange having two apertures arranged on opposite sides and adaptedto receive the legs for storage. the flat upper surface defining ahorizontal plane. each aperture having an upper edge and a lower edge.the upper edge being entirely on one side of a vertical plane passingthrough the aperture and the lower edge being entirely on the other sideof the vertical plane. thereby facillitating molding of the top.

1. A table, comprising: a. a top injection molded of plastic and havinga flat upper surface, the top having at least three sockets extendingdownwardly therefrom, b. a plurality of legs, each one being adapted tofit tightly into one of the sockets, and c. a flange extending aroundthe periphery of the top, the flange having two apertures arranged onopposite sides and adapted to receive the legs for storage, eachaperture through the flange being rectangular in shape and elongated inthe horizontal direction, the wall above the aperture being defined byinner and an outer parallel surfaces, the wall below the aperture beingalso defined by inner and outer parallel surfaces, the outer surface ofthe wall above being coplanar with the inner surface of the wall below,thereby facillitating molding of the top.
 2. A table as recited in claim1, wherein the legs are of generally U-shaped cross-sectionalconfiguration and the legs can lie side-by-side for storage in theapertures.
 3. A table as recited in claim 2, wherein the cross-sectionalshape of each leg is made up of a straight web from each end of whichextends a straight leg lying at an obtuse angle to the web.
 4. A tableas recited in claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the top is definedby three generally gently-curved sides arranged in a generallytriangular configuration with circular segments joining their ends, andwherein the said apertures are located in the portion of the flangeextending from two of the sides.
 5. A table as recited in claim 1,wherein the upper flat surface is interrupted by a plurality ofrecesses, one of which is circular and of a size to receive a drinkingglass and another of which is kidney-shaped to receive snacks.
 6. Atable as recited in claim 1, wherein each leg is provided with an upperportion of reduced cross-sectional shape extending at a substantialangle to the remainder, so that, when the upper portion of each leg isin its socket, the legs extend in a non-parallel manner to each other,spreading in the downward direction.
 7. A table, comprising: a. a tophaving a flat surface, the top being injection molded and having atleast three sockets extending downwardly therefrom, b. a plurality oflegs, each one being adapted to fit tightly into one of the sockets, andc. a flange extending around the periphery of the top, the flange havingtwo apertures arranged on opposite sides and adapted to receive the legsfor storage, the flat upper surface defining a horizontal plane, eachaperture having an upper edge and a lower edge, the upper edge beingentirely on one side of a vertical plane passing through the apertureand the lower edge being entirely on the other side of the verticalplane, thereby facillitating molding of the top.